Todd Talks By Todd Muller

Everyone in our community has the right to feel safe in their homes. Parents and children should not live in an environment of fear that someone will strike out in uncontrolled anger.

There is too much of this happening in Tauranga with over 250 police prosecutions for domestic violence since the start of the year.

Last Sunday my wife Michelle and I went to Papamoa Plaza to join over 100 concerned locals marching peacefully to raise awareness of family violence. It was the Family Violence – It's not OK Day and was a very special way to spend Sunday morning. After the march the crowd returned to the domain for a morning of music, Zumba, and family laughter.

It was great to see so many of our community agencies involved. The event provided the opportunity for families to hold conversations about domestic violence. This included those who live in fear of being abused and, more importantly, the ones whose volcanic anger is simmering and awaiting a trigger.

We are all in this together. Family violence is something that other families have to confront and deal with. If we see it, or hear it, then we must act because if we look away, we are not playing our part. This week in the CBD a number of people ran to the aid of a female passer-by because her partner was screaming at her, and their arrival instantly calmed the situation.

I love this place, I love our community, but 250 prosecutions in less than two months is far too high! Let's all get involved and address this problem.